21 May 2025
“I’m going without meals… I have considered eating dog or cat food”
New Salvos research surveys clients, 55% skipping meals, 23% eating expired food and a staggering 1 in 20 eating from rubbish bins
The Salvation Army have released shocking new research highlighting the desperation of Australia’s most vulnerable people, with the survey of those who reached out to the charity for help finding over half (55%) were skipping meals because of financial hardship, 57% could not afford prescription medication and almost a quarter (23%) were forced to eat expired or spoiled food.
For families with children, the situation is even more dire, with 62% of parents saying they went without food so their kids could eat, 43% couldn’t afford essentials like formula and nappies for their young children, and over a third (36%) struggled to cover the costs of basic non-prescription medications like paracetamol or ibuprofen.
A 30-year-old mum who had received support from the Salvos said, “I'm extremely depressed. I feel like I am failing as a mother. I'm a public servant and still cannot provide. I have considered quitting my job to save on the cost of petrol, parking, childcare, etc.”
Another community member said, “I just drink water to fill up my tummy. And the milk for the baby, for example, one bottle is for four scoops of milk, I always put two scoops in every bottle. I don’t use nappies for the baby because I can’t afford to buy nappies for her. And also, when we wash our clothes, we are not using soap. I can’t afford that.”
Further, over a third (35%) of respondents were forced to use buy now, pay later services to cover essentials like food, utilities and medicine, and a disturbing 83% were living below the poverty line.
The research surveyed 3,586 community members who had received food, financial assistance or material aid from The Salvos and found that 90% of respondents said they wouldn’t have managed without the support of The Salvation Army.
“It is truly shocking in a country like Australia that we are seeing these devastating numbers. No one should be forced to eat expired food or to eat out of rubbish bins. The fact that over one in twenty (6%) of those we surveyed said they were eating from dumpsters breaks our heart. Those presenting to us are some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged in our community, and the Salvos are there to not only bridge the gap, but to walk alongside Aussies doing it tough to see real change in their lives, and we need the support of the Australian public to help us do this,” said Major Bruce Harmer from The Salvation Army.
A 43-year-old mum said, “I go without and try to give my children what they need. I have payment plans with electricity so my power does not get turned off…I buy the same food every week because that’s all I can afford. I haven’t eaten meat in many months. I have to use Afterpay to get washing powder and food.”
A 62-year-old woman added, “[I’m] going without meals. I eat only one small meal a day now. I’ve cut down on my medication, only taking half of my meds. I have considered eating dog or cat food.”
The level of hardship also extended to an inability to pay for utilities and bills. 43% revealed they often showered less to save on water and electricity, one in five (20%) were living in darkness to cut electricity costs and one in eight (12%) relied on public bathrooms and shopping centres to avoid using utilities at home.
This research coincides with The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, this year aiming to raise $38 million to ensure their 2000 services across the country can continue to support Australians doing it tough.
Across Australia last year, through The Salvation Army’s network of centres in areas such as homelessness, family and domestic violence, youth, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, financial hardship and much more, the Salvos provided: *
- Assistance to one person every 17 seconds
- More than 1.76 million sessions of care to over 250,000 people in need
- Over 1.1 million bed nights to those who needed accommodation
- More than 1.5 million meals to people who accessed our homelessness services.
“The Salvos can’t do our work without the generosity of the Australian public to our Red Shield Appeal. Our survey showed that 9 in 10 respondents said they wouldn’t have managed without the support of The Salvation Army. You can be the hope that Aussies desperately need right now! So please, if you are able, donate to the Red Shield Appeal this year,” added Major Harmer.
To donate to The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Appeal, please visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS. You can also donate at any Salvos Store.
ENDS
For more information, please contact The Salvation Army’s Media Relations Department on (02) 94663143
*The Salvation Army’s Annual Report 2024
